Sand dewatering and mixing device



March 16 1926. 1,576,617 .1. PRINCE SAND lDEWA'IERING AND MIXING DEVICE F'iled'May l, 1925 ./N VENTO?? fa/2f; @72766.

ATTORNEY' Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

UNITED srArEs JOHN PRINCE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

SAND DEWATERING AND MIXING DEVICE.

l 'Application filed May 1, 1925, Serial No. 27,166.

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PRINCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sand Dewatering and Mixing Devices; and I do ,declare the following to be a full, clear, and' exact description ,of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for proportioning the sand and water pumped from a river bed, to facilitate delivery of the sand through a d ischarge line to the usual classifying pits,

other storage, or to vehicles for direct delivery. Y

Under ordinary practice sand dredged from a river' bed by hydraulic apparatus carries such an excessive'amount of water as to place an unnecessary burden on the pump, and limit efficiency of the discharge line proportionately to the volume of excess water. Some water must, of course, pass with the sand thro-ugh the discharge pipe to act as a vehicle for the sand, and it is the object of the present invention to so proportion the water to the sand by eliminating excess water, or supplying its-deficiency, to provide the proper vehicle,

In accomplishing this object I have devised the method and apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein n The ligure is a vertical, vlongitudinal section through a sand dewatering and mixing device constructed in accordance with my invention.

lReferring in detail to the drawings :f-

1 designates a hopper which may be located on the dredge or barge of a sand pump outfit, and is adapted for receiving sand pumped from the bed of the stream through the pipe 2. At the bottom of the hopper is a `mixing chamber 3 adapted to receive sand from the hopper by gravity through a port opening 4 controlled by a valve 5 having a stem 6 connected with a lever 7 that may be operable from a suitable location on the barge. 1 jAlso communicating with the mixing chamber 3 is a discharge pipe or conduit 8 through which the sand is delivered to the classifying pits, and provided with Vpressure and vacuum gauges 9 and 10 for indicating the consistency of material passing through the pipe. If there is an excess of water with the sand there will be a rapid flow of the material through the pipe, whereas if there is an insuhcient amount of water there will be no flow, and the pump will suck on the vacuum gauge. Observation of the two gauges will inform the operator as to the consistency, sothat he can correct the improper proportioning by regulation of flow of sand and water to the mixing chamber.

rt is contemplated that feed to the` hopper will maintain the sand therein at a given level, and -rising from the mixing chamber to a point above the normal level of the sand, but terminating below the top of the hopper, is a pipe 11 having a 'valve seatV 12 at its upper end, controlled by a valve 13 having a stem 14 connected'with an operating lever 15 which may also extend to a convenient point adjacent the apparatus, the pipe 11 serving' to supply water to the mixing chamber under valve control.

Also extending from the mixing chamber 3 is a second supply pipe 16, having a port opening 17 in the bottom of a tank 18,

which receives overflow from the hopper l through a launder 19 and connection 2O,V

and having an overflow pipe 21 through which excess water may be drained off when water in the auxiliary tank reaches the level of the outlet.

The port opening 17 in the tank 18 is controlled by a valve 22 having a stem 23 connected with an operating lever 24, which may also extend to some distance from the hopper, termination of the three levers 7,

15 and 24 being adjacent each other so that they can all be conveniently controlled from the same point.

The several levers 7 15, and 24 are pivotally mounted on traine members 25, 26 and 27 which, as well as the hopper, are suitably mounted on the dredge or barge.

Assuming that the parts are constructed and assembled as described, sand is pumped from the bed of the stream and delivered into the hopper, the water passing along with the sand as a vehicle therefor and as an unavoidable incident to operation of the pump.

The sand settles to the bottom of the hopper, lilling the hopper and supporting the excess water, which latter flows over the top ot the hopper and thence into the auxiliary tank until it overiiows through the pipe 2l.

When the sand is to be pumped from the i' hopper to the classifying pits, the discharge pump is started in operation and sand and water ports l andl l2 are opened to provide a desired proportional flow of sand and Water into the mixing chamber 3 from which the mixture is pumped through the pipe 8. Observation of the gauges 9 and l0 will inform the operator should there be an excess or insuihciency of water, and the improper proportion can be corrected by manipulation of the valves 5 and 13 through the levers 7 and l5.

Should the mixture delivered into the hopper contain an insuilicient amount ot water so that the water in the hopper falls below the level of the intake to pipe l1, then the auxiliary tank can be drawn on to supply the insuiiiciency, flow from the auxiliary tank being controlled by manipulation of the valve 22. Y

In this marmer, and with the apparatus described, I provide for positively determining and maintaining the proper mixture or' sand and water for etiiciently pumping sand from the dredge or barge to the classifying pits, or any point to which the sand is to be delivered for storage, or for immediate delivery by wagons or cars.

W'hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A sand dewatering and mixing apparatus comprising a hopper, a mixing chamber below and communicating with the hopper, a stand pipe opening to the mixing chamber and to an upper portion ,of the hopper, valves controlling flow trom the hopper to the mixing chamber and to said stand pipe, and a discharge pipe, leading from the mixing chamber.

2. A sand dewatering and mixing apparatus comprising a hopper, a mixing chamber below and communicating with the hopper, a stand pipe opening to the mixing chamber and to an upper portion of the hopper, valves controlling flow from the hopper to the mixing chamber and to said stand pipe, a discharge pipe leading from the mixing chamber, and an auxiliary water supply tank having valved communication with the mixing chamber.

3. A sand dewatering and mixing apparatus comprising a hopper, a mixing chamber below and communicating with the hopper, a stand pipe opening to the mixing chamber and to an upper portion or.' the hopper, valves controlling ilow from the hopper to the mixing chamber and to said stand pipe, a discharge pipe leading from the mixing chamber, an auxiliary water supply tank having valved communication with the mixing chamber, and means for conducting overiiow from the hopper to the auxiliary tank.

4f. A sand dewatering and mixing apparatus comprising a hopper, a mixing chamber below the hopper, a valve seat surrounding an opening for communicating the hopper with the mixing chamber, an upstanding tube communicating the mixing chamber with the upper part of the hopper, a pipe leading from. the mixing chamber, a valve for the valve seat in the bottom or the hopper, a valve :tor varying the e'ective port area of the upstanding tube and means for independently operating said valves.

5. A sand dewatering and mixing apparatus comprising a hopper, a mixing chamber below the hopper, a valve seat surrounding an opening for communicating the hopper with the mixing chamber, an upstanding tube ycommunicating the mixing chamber with the upper part of the hopper, a pipe leading from the mixing chamber, a Valve for the valve seat in the bottom of the hopper, a valve for varying the effective port area of the upstanding tube, means for independently operating said valves, and a launder about the hopper to receive liquid overflowing the upper edge of the hopper.

6. A sand dewatering and mixing apparatus comprising a hopper having a floor in the bottom thereof, a mixing chamber below the hopper, the lioor having an opening, a valve -lfor varying the ciiective port area of the opening, an upstanding pipe communieating with the mixing chamber and extending to a point near the top of the hopper, a valve for said pipe, and independent means for actuating the valves.

7. A sand dewatering and mixing apparatus comprising a hopper, a mixing chamber below the hopper, a pipe for feeding sand and water into the hopper, valved means 'or varying the relative proportions of sand and water passing from the hopperinto the mixing chamber and a discharge pipe connected to the mixing chamber.

8. A sand dewatering and mixing apparatus comprising a hopper having a floor and a sand opening in the floor of the hopper, a water passageway in the hopper, a mixing chamber having communication with the hopper through the sand opening and water passageway, and means for carrying off eX- tions of sand and Water passing from the cess water from the hopper. hopper into the mixing chamber and a dis- 9. A sand dewatering and mixing` apparecharge pipe leading from the mixing ehaun-` l0 tus, comprising a hopper, a mixing chamber ber. 5 below and in communication with the hop- In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

per, means for feeding sand and water into the hopper, means for varying the propor` JOHN PRINCE. 

